How To Write An Appealing, Captivating Freelance Proposal

After you’ve browsed job listings and found a potential client, it’s time to write an appealing freelance proposal. The proposal itself is the first step toward creating a long-term working relationship with the client and when done right, it can make the difference between getting hired and having to keep looking for work. 

Of course, writing a compelling freelance proposal can be challenging. A winning proposal should include details of what work will be done, how much it will cost, and why you’re the best person for the job. 

It should also clearly state any extra fees or terms of payment that might come up so that there aren’t any surprises for either party later on. Luckily for all of us, we’ve got some tips to help out with this!

Research The Client

Before you even write a proposal, you should do some research on the client to make sure that they are right for your business.

Look at their website and social media accounts. What is their mission? What language do they use to describe themselves? Do they have any unique selling points that they highlight in their copy?

Look through the blog posts, newsletters, and other content that they have published online. Can you find anything useful there that would help write your proposal (e.g., “we’re looking for someone who can…”)?

Additionally, look at their competitors’ websites as well especially if any of them are based locally in your area of expertise. 

You may see something about how one competitor does something similar to or different from what another competitor does about content strategy or SEO optimization; this information could also help inform what kinds of topics might resonate with your potential client’s audience when pitching yourself as a writer!

Start Strong

The first few lines of your proposal are the most important, as they set the tone for the rest of your pitch. Write a brief introduction that introduces yourself and explains why you’re qualified to handle this project. Use a catchy headline that describes what you do something like “Graphic design expert” or “Content marketing expert.”

Next, give an overview of your skills and experience. This should be fairly short, but it should explain why you’re able to complete this project successfully: what makes you special or unique? Also include a quick summary of what you plan to do with the finished product: how will it help readers?

Finally, include a summary of your project idea (or just briefly describe its purpose). This is where you can show off any creative thinking skills if they come up in conversation later on.

Tell Your Story

In this section, you can share a little about yourself, but don’t go overboard here. You don’t want to sound like a self-absorbed jerk trying to sell yourself as the best person for the job or try and make yourself look better than everyone else. Just share some of your goals and what has led you up until this point in time.

Have a strong, focused message about why clients should hire you over other freelancers; highlight specific skills, experience, or projects that are relevant to the client’s needs and how they align with what they’re looking for in terms of your services/the project itself!

State Your Rates

Once you’ve stated what you’re offering, it’s time to give potential clients a sense of what they’ll be paying. This is where most freelancers have trouble. Just like any other payment request, the key here is clarity and conciseness.

Here’s how I do it: I make sure that my rates are stated clearly in the very first line of my proposal (which means they should be included in your email subject) so that when a client reads it, they know exactly what they’re getting for their money:

For example: “I charge $100 per hour or $2,000 monthly minimum retainer (or both). For new freelancers who don’t yet have an existing portfolio to show off their work history and experience levels. 

I recommend starting with this range as well but add a disclaimer about how these numbers will likely increase over time as you gain more experience.

Give Real Examples

Include real examples of your past work. Don’t just say that you did “this” or “that.” Show it! For example, if a company is looking for someone to help them with their blog, show what you have done for other clients in the past. If a company is looking for someone to design their website, show what you have done for other clients in the past.

If a company is looking for someone who has experience working with both software and hardware companies, show how much experience you have working with both software and hardware companies. 

If they’re interested in hiring someone who’s worked on mobile apps or websites before but not desktop applications, put emphasis on those skills and show them off!

Explain Your Process

This is where you explain your process. How will you approach this project? Will it be a full-time job or just a few hours a week? How will communication with the client work? What kind of deliverables are expected, and how long will each phase take to complete?

This section should also include information about revisions and edits. For example, if the client has unlimited revisions for free until the project is complete, then state so here (or give them several revisions that are included in the price). 

Or if there’s no limit on edits but they’ll be billed extra for each one after 10 total edits then say so here! Showing your flexibility when it comes time to make changes demonstrates professionalism while still keeping clients happy.

Highlight Any Challenges Up Front

One of the ways to show a client that you’re worth hiring is by highlighting any challenges upfront. The key is to be upfront about challenging situations but don’t overstate them. 

Instead, you should mention that you are willing and able to work with the client to overcome any challenges. You can also mention that you have a plan for addressing these challenges in your proposal or deliverables.

Another way to demonstrate that you’re equipped for solving problems is by highlighting past experiences working through similar challenges successfully.

Detail What You Need From The Client

You’re listing issues and problems the client is facing, but you also need to let them know how you plan to solve them. A good proposal will detail what you need from the client and exactly how you plan on addressing their needs.

For example, if your service is writing a blog post or blog series for a company, they may not have asked for it yet (it’s too early in the process). But if they did ask for this service and didn’t mention what kind of content they are looking for, include some ideas about topics related to their business that would be relevant to their customers.

You should also let clients know how long each phase is expected to take: How long will it take before you can start working on their project? How much time do they need between phases? If there are any milestones along the way (a due date by which something must be done), include those as well.

Include A Timeline And Milestones

In a proposal, you can include a timeline and milestones. This is useful for both the freelancer and the client. For example, if you are working on a project that has an agreed-upon deadline, it’s good to have your timeline established so everyone knows how much time they have left and when certain tasks need to be completed.

The same goes for milestones: these are specific benchmarks or goals within the larger scope of your proposal (e.g., “We will launch our website on January 1st”). It’s always helpful to communicate what each stage of your process looks like so that everyone involved knows what they should expect from beginning to end!

Address Questions They Didn’t Ask But Should Have

This is a good way to answer questions that clients might be thinking about but didn’t ask. You can also use it as an opportunity to demonstrate your expertise by addressing questions that the client may have but hasn’t thought of yet.

For example, if you just finished writing that article on how to create a captivating proposal, you could add section called “FAQs: What else should I know?” In this section, you can address any concerns or questions that haven’t been addressed in any other part of your proposal, as well as provide links to further resources and articles related to this topic.

Include Testimonials And Past Work Samples

If you’re interested in writing for a particular publication, check out their website and see if they have any published pieces by freelancers. If they do, read them to get an idea of the style that’s typical for their site.

If you aren’t sure what kind of work samples to include with your proposal, think about which types of projects appeal to you most and what kinds of clients would meet your needs. 

Then go through your past work whether it’s freelance projects or articles written for school and pull out the best ones that fit these criteria. Make sure each sample is relevant and concise; don’t try to shoehorn every single piece of writing into this section!

Take Some Time To Step Away From The Proposal Before Submitting It

When you’re done writing, take some time to step away from the proposal before submitting it. Do not rush your work! You must give yourself time to think about the piece and get feedback from others. 

Don’t worry too much about what the client will think or how they’ll respond you can always revise the proposal later on if necessary. Think instead of whether this is an appealing, captivating piece of writing that would appeal to anyone who saw it not just your client.

How long should you wait? I recommend waiting until at least tomorrow afternoon (the next day). 

If possible, wait until after lunchtime on Monday morning before submitting it so that everyone has had a chance to read through it over their weekend breakfasts. 

And catch up with emails during their commute home Friday evening rather than having everything dumped on the first thing Saturday morning in addition to everything else already waiting in their inboxes due Monday morning!

Customize Your Proposal

When you’re writing proposals, it’s critical to remember that your proposals are always tailored to specific clients.

Your proposal will be different for each client, so it’s important to consider the following:

The needs of your clients. What do they need from you? How can you help them meet their goals with your services?

Your schedule. Are there certain days and times when you can best accommodate their needs? Make sure they know when these times are! 

For example, if a client wants someone available at 8 AM every day Monday through Friday but doesn’t want weekend coverage, let them know up front that this isn’t something that fits into your schedule right now (and offer alternatives).

Ask For Questions Before You Send It Off And Revise The Proposal, If Necessary, Based On Those Questions

One great way to get feedback on your project is to ask questions before you send it off. This can help you make sure that the proposal is clear and easy to follow, as well as make sure that all of the information is included in the proposal. If there are any details on which your client might need clarification, they’ll let you know!

When you receive feedback from the client(s), be sure to revise your proposal based on their responses. For example, if someone asks for more details about a section of the project, consider adding those details and then ask them again if they have any questions or concerns about anything else in your document.

You Can Write A Strong Proposal That Will Get You Selected For Freelance Jobs

You can write a strong proposal that will get you selected for freelance jobs. It’s not that hard, and it’s worth it.

When you’re new to the freelancing game, you don’t have a lot of experience to show prospective clients. That’s why it’s so important to put together a fantastic proposal that highlights your skills and makes them want to hire you. 

If you write an appealing proposal with good content, then clients will want to hire you because they know they’ll be getting someone who does great work on their project and they’ll be paying less!

That doesn’t mean that writing proposals are easy though; there are tips and tricks I’ve learned over time that help me write better proposals every time I do them (which is almost daily).

Conclusion

These strategies have helped me connect with clients in the past, and I hope they’ll help you, too. It’s important to remember that while the content of these proposals matters, the way you present yourself also has an impact on your client. 

If they like being around you (whether virtually or in person), they’ll be more likely to hire you again and recommend your services to others.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do I Make The Most Money?

You can make more money by charging more for your services. To figure out what you should charge, consider how much work goes into each project, then add a markup percentage. 

For example, if a project takes you 20 hours to complete, and you normally mark up your work by 30%, then you should charge $200 for that project.

What If My Client Wants Me To Change Something On My Proposal?

If your client asks you to change something after they’ve accepted it, then it’s up to you whether or not you want to do so. If they don’t have any legitimate reason for wanting changes made (such as an error in spelling or grammar), then it’s probably best to stick with what was originally submitted.

Why Should I Hire You?

You shouldn’t! There are a lot of talented writers out there who are just as good as I am, and they’re probably way cheaper. If you want to make sure that your project is in good hands, hire one of them. 

But if you’d like someone who can give you a unique perspective on your project and someone excited about working with you someone who will be invested in making this project the best it can be then hire me.

What Kind Of Work Have You Done Before?

A lot! Just check out my portfolio at [link], where I’ve posted a bunch of articles and blog posts I’ve written over the past few years. 

You’ll see that I’m a pretty versatile writer who has experience writing all kinds of things from short-form articles and blog posts to long-form feature stories, pitches/sales/marketing copy, and even some fiction writing (although don’t worry, none of my clients have ever asked me to write any fiction).

How Long Should My Proposal Be?

Your proposal should be no longer than two pages, and it should include all the information that a potential client would need to make an informed decision about hiring you.

Can I Send A Proposal With No Sample Work Attached?

No, this is not acceptable! When you are applying for a job, you want to make sure that you’re showcasing your best work and that includes samples of your past work in whatever industry or field you’re writing proposals for.

What Should I Include In My Proposal?

Your proposal should include information about what kind of project you’re applying for (e.g., a content marketing project), who your audience is (e.g., people who love cats), and what kind of results they expect (e.g., increasing sales by 20%), how much time you’ll need to complete the project (e.g., 3 months), and what kind of budget they have available for the project (e.g., $5K).